Abstract
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant threat to human health around the world. A severe risk of infection has been observed in elderly populations. In addition, individuals with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities have also been identified to be at a higher risk of infection for COVID-19. We have attempted here to provide evidence in support of exercise management as a prevention strategy for improving health and minimizing the effects of COVID-19. Therefore, exercise duration, frequency, and intensity benefits are summarized in an attempt to provide guidelines for the general population. In terms of exercise effects, there are multiple benefits of exercise related to human health. These include, decreases in adipose tissue, improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness, enhanced metabolic homeostasis, and suppress inflammation active. With respect to the amount of exercise performed individuals should exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 150 min/wk as an initial target. Increases in intensity and duration of exercise training are necessary for significant fitness benefits, weight loss, and prevention of weight regain. In relation to walking, 10,000 steps/day at a rate of 64–170 steps/minute for at least 10 min duration is reasonable for healthy adults. For exercise intensity, a combination of resistance training (RT), aerobic training (AT) as well as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) incorporated with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) can be recognized as an optimal exercise mode for health benefits. Aerobic training and MICT should be viewed as a basis for exercise in combination with appropriate volumes and types of RT and HIIT. Activities should be performed according to professional guidelines and advice. If implemented, these measures may reduce infection rates, underlying pathologies, and assist in decreasing mortality associated with COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has recently become one of the greatest threats the world has faced. 6,976045 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection has been confirmed in more than 100 countries based on the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report (07 June 2020) (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020)
According to a report published by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) they have been informed of 11,634 admissions for critical care with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (22th May 2020)
The effects of body mass indexes (BMI) are further substantiated by preliminary data from China, among 383 patients with SARS-CoV-2 in Shenzhen city, overweight was associated with 86%, and obesity was associated with 42% of patients (Cai et al, 2020)
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has recently become one of the greatest threats the world has faced. 6,976045 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection has been confirmed in more than 100 countries based on the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report (07 June 2020) (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Obesity is defined as a condition of excess body fat and represents a state of low-grade chronic inflammation and impaired immunity that is associated with many debilitating and life-threatening disorders These include respiratory dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers, metabolic risk, and associated co-morbidities, some of which are widely recognized as being related with more severe COVID-19 (Stefan et al, 2020) (Figure 1). Further details are available in the scientific statement from the American Heart Association (Ross et al, 2016) These results show a dose response effect for CRF improvement for both intensity and volume of physical activity in initially inactive overweight men and women. Exercise provides multiple benefits to boost individual’s health, which may be beneficial to potentially reduce the risk of infections; this is currently relevant, considering the situation of COVID-19 pandemic which is still ongoing with the absence of a vaccine
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